FAX sent to Governor Taft's office by Gary Gepfrey on August 24, 2005:

Subject:  Outline/Highlights of Proclamation for Ohio Marriages and Families

Presented to:  Office of the Governor of Ohio

Presented by:  Bridge Ministries, Sponsoring Organization

Title:  Proclamation to Encourage  and Protect Ohio Marriages and Families
 • Marriage is a sacred institution and union between a man and a woman.  
 • Healthy, successful marriages are the foundation of loving, safe, nurturing, equipping, and flourishing families . . . and both current and future citizens of Ohio.  Strong marriages and families are the foundation of a thriving, prosperous, and life-filled society and culture.  They make our state better, providing the most stable foundation for releasing values, life, responsibility, support, and hope for citizens of Ohio and the United States.  
 • The costs of broken marriages and families are enormous to citizens of Ohio and our society.  Provide highlights of some of these costs, including emotional, financial, and issues pertaining to quality-of-life among citizens in our state.   
 • Ohio pledges its support and protection of marriages and families as the essential foundation of our society.  Beginning in October, 2005, October will annually be recognized as Marriage and Family Month.  Ohio wants to encourage healthy marriages and the well-being of children.  We want to support and help parents build strong, sustaining families so that Ohio will be a compassionate, welcoming society that is loving, kind-hearted, generous, and helpful to fellow citizens and those we are called to serve.   
 • Highlight contents and merits of Ohio’s new marriage legislation.  This includes pre-marital counseling to help marriages start well and receive a stronger foundation that will provide ongoing dividends throughout the years of higher-quality marriage and family life.  This also includes a special marriage covenant option with practical measures and commitments that encourage couples to work through difficulties instead of quickly exiting marriages and breaking up families.
 • Concluding comments and proclamation . . . NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bob Taft, Governor of the State of Ohio, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Ohio Constitution and laws of the State of Ohio, do hereby proclaim the month of October, beginning in 2005 as Marriage and Family Month.  I call upon the people of Ohio to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies.